Roses are Thorns, Violets are True [Paperback]

Shelia M. Goss (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2003

Rose's ultimate goal is to remain in the spotlight; preferable on the silver screen. To her fans, Rose is sincere, glamorous, and charitable; but to Violet, her twin, she's a conniving, manipulative person that starves for constant attention. Violet has always been able to forgive her sister's malicious deeds. Well that is, until Rose does the unthinkable. Can these sisters ever be friends, or will they always stand divided?

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An exciting, entertaining, and well weaved novel..." -- Vincent Alexandria - Author of If Walls Could Talk, Postal Blues, & Black Rain

A 'must read' that should be added to each book club's reading list. -- 4 The Love Of Books' Book Club (Dallas, TX)

Tag along as the author gets to the heart and soul of sibling rivalry. -- Magdalene Breaux - Author of The Family Curse, Imaginary Playmate and Johnny Calico

From the Publisher

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN TWIN SISTERS ARE ON OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM?

Read the energetic drama-filled debut novel ROSES are Thorns, VIOLETS are True by an exciting new author - Shelia M. Goss.

ROSES are Thorns, VIOLETS are True is thought provoking and well written in a style that touches the hearts and souls of sisters and redefines their bond. Shelia Goss tells a story in such a way that it causes you to re-examine your relationship with your family and specifically if you are blessed with a sister. There are twists and turns, so readers get ready for a roller coaster ride of adventure, mystery, deceit and second chances. "A 'must read' that should be added to each book club's reading list," says 4 The Love Of Books' Book Club in Dallas, TX.

"Spellbinding" is how Magdalene Breaux, Author of The Family Curse, Imaginary Playmate and Johnny Calico described her novel. Ms. Breaux also goes on to call it "A suspenseful tale filled with twists and turns. Tag along as the author gets to the heart and soul of sibling rivalry."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: 4AllSeasons Publishing (August 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974257222
• ISBN-13: 978-0974257228
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,239,518 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Shelia M. Goss has over thirteen books in print. She's the Dallas Morning News and Essence Magazine Best-Selling author of: Ruthless, Delilah, Savannah's Curse, My Invisible Husband, Roses are Thorns, Paige's Web, Double Platinum, His Invisible Wife, and Hollywood Deception.

Shelia not only writes fiction for adults, she writes young adult books. The Lip Gloss Chronicles series consists of four books: The Ultimate Test, Splitsville, Paper Thin, and Secrets Untold.

She's also the recipient of three Shades of Romance Magazine Readers Choice Multi-Cultural Awards and honored as a Literary Diva: The Top 100 Most Admired African American Women in Literature.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Twin/Bad Twin, September 14, 2003

By 

J.C. Wallington "jnettefrommi" (Detroit, MI) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Roses are Thorns, Violets are True (Paperback)

Violet had to put up with her deceitful twin sister, Rose, from early childhood. Their parents always said Rose was special therefore her bad deeds went unpunished throughout her childhood and into adulthood. In Shelia M Goss' novel, ROSES are Thorns, VIOLETS are True, the twins, aptly named after their parent's favorite flowers, are at odds with one another. Can past hurts be buried and new beginnings planted?

For Rose, life is a stage and the world is her audience. She is an actress, singer and has her choice of men. So why is it that whatever her sister has, she wants. She seduces Violet's husband, David, and then they marry. Only, David is still in love with Violet but refuses to divorce Rose. They stay in a loveless marriage until Rose's extreme actions tear them apart. Because they are twins, Violet always finds a way to forgive Rose, even when she is the victim of Rose's detrimental actions. When some photos are mailed to Violet and shows Rose in some compromising positions with Violet's man, the strong bond between the sisters is shattered. Violet moves away and breaks all ties with Rose. For ten years the sisters do not communicate. The tables are turned as Rose now wants a closer relationship with Violet, and Violet who can not trust Rose is unbending in her determination to stay far away from Rose. It takes the determination of their mother to bring them together.

While much of the story is devoted to the relationship between Rose and Violet and the relationship of the ladies and their male friends, the theme of the book is forgiveness. Not only do the ladies have to find it in their heart to forgive each other, but also forgive those who have hurt them in the past. I liked how the novel was told in alternating voices as Rose and Violet explain their actions. I eagerly turned the pages to find out what Rose had up her sleeve, who was to be the "man du jour" and how far the sisters would go to protect their hearts. This is a quick good read that I would recommend putting in your TBR pile.

Jeanette
APOOO BookClub

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hot Book, August 30, 2004

By 

Jenny (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Roses are Thorns, Violets are True (Paperback)

Oh man, where do i begin: Well I must say that I read this book overnight and I am upset that I finished this book too quickly.

This book tells a story about two rivaling sisters who happens to be twins and one twin ROSE kind of envied her sister VIOLET because she was always the calm one and innoncent instead of sneaky like herself. Violet was a strong woman to me because she put up with a lot of mess from her sister and past lovers. Rose betrayed her sister. This book is intense and steamy. I hope there is a sequel to this novel because it was really a good book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sisterly Competition at its Best, April 25, 2004

By 

Flavah Reviewer (Winston Salem, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roses are Thorns, Violets are True (Paperback)

What happens when you combine sibling rivalry, deception, and secrecy together in one book? You discover "Roses are Thorns, Violets are True", the sizzling story of identical twins who couldn't be farther apart. In this highly suspenseful novel wonderfully written by author, Shelia M. Goss, readers are engulfed by the many twists and turns of events taking place in the lives of Rose and Violet Purdue. For these twins, sibling rivalry takes on a whole new meaning; escalating to a higher level as Rose's compulsive need to be the center of attention, forfeits the love of a sister.

Since their early childhood, Violet has been the object of Rose's conniving behavior. Rose discovered early on the ploys guaranteed to grant her heart's desires. But the single element driving Rose to deceive Violet in such a reckless manner is the last thing Violet could have ever conceived to be true of Rose. Beautiful and equally delicate as her name portrays, Violet has disciplined herself to be forgiving of her sister's antics all of their lives. But gone are the days of competing for dolls and daddy's attention. The stakes have become much higher and someone must pay the price when Rose commits the ultimate act of betrayal; one that could destroy the relationship between her and Violet forever.

Can Rose and Violet ever truly overcome the distance between them? More importantly, will Rose ever confess to Violet the secret that has been driving her to destroy her sister all these years? "Roses are Thorns, Violets are True" sheds light on the essence of sibling rivalry and the road to redemption. Cleverly plotted, Shelia M. Goss' debut novel will have its readers on edge until the last word is read.

Collier Lunn, founder of Namari Publishing
Flavah Reviewers